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Lia Mahony is a pharmacist with a long history of service in Tamworth and the larger New England Northwest community.
With a passion for improving access to healthcare and raising health literacy, Lia also inspires current and future health professionals through mentoring as well developing and delivering professional education.
Lia is also a sought-after governance professional, with specific interests in community and healthcare not-for profit organisations.
Growing up in Manilla, where her father Patrick was the local pharmacist, Lia comes from a family with many generations of the extended Mahony family running businesses in Tamworth and the surrounding area.
In partnership with her father, Lia has owned multiple pharmacies in the region over last 25 years, with Patrick taking his well-earned retirement last year.
Lia studied pharmacy at The University of Sydney, returning to work in the Manilla Pharmacy in 1994. That same year, Lia was crowned Miss Tamworth Showgirl, and still proudly displays the sash in her office, perhaps the first of many opportunities for Lia to be involved in the Tamworth community.
Lia is proud that her locally owned business is providing employment and opportunities for people in regional communities, with a key focus on developing skills and encouraging personal growth of her team. Lia is quoted to say: “I am proud that twelve of my employees have gone on to study pharmacy, many of whom still work in the region. Training and keeping skills regionally is so important.”
Understanding the benefit of providing regionally based education in the healthcare sector improves the long-term retention rates int he area, Lia was part of the inaugural teaching staff in the University of New England Pharmacy program as a Pharmacy Practice Lecturer.
In an effort to improve access to healthcare near her pharmacy, Tamworth Discount Drugstore, with her husband John, Lia opened a medical practice, Better Health South Tamworth. Currently, the surgery employs three doctors, providing accessible and affordable medical services to many low-income patients.
Lia’s key areas of expertise include drug and alcohol support, aged care, and chronic disease state management. Lia is also a qualified ‘Deadly Pharmacist’, a certification for providing culturally appropriate pharmaceutical care to aboriginal patients. Other post graduate qualifications in clinical governance and business reinforce the credentials she brings to her mentoring and teaching roles.
Lia joined the Tamworth Business Chamber Board in 2010 and served in various roles over a six-year period including vice-president before taking over as Chamber President. During her time, Lia strongly advocated for the growth of the Tamworth business community, focusing on regional employment, retaining young people within our community, and attracting and retaining high level executives and professionals to our city.
In 2016, on behalf of the Tamworth Business Chamber, Lia appeared before NSW parliament at a Standing Committee on State Development Inquiry into Regional Planning Processes.
After her time with the Tamworth Business Chamber, Lia wasinspired to transfer that experience into helping community and healthcarenot-for-profit organisations.
In 2015, with changes to the Medicare Local structures, Liawas appointed as the inaugural chair of the newly formed HealthWISE New England Northwest Board. Lia led the HealthWISE Board and the organisation through aperiod of expansion and innovation over her 8-year tenure, stepping aside aschair last year. Lia remains involved as a board director and is currently thechair of Healthwise’s Clinical and Cultural Governance Committee.
HealthWISE is currentlyis running a wonderful pilot program to install Aboriginal healthcare workersin pharmacies. Lia identified a need in her own business that has led to theintroduction of the pilot program working to reduce cultural barriers to healthliteracy and healthcare.
Lia was appointed to the McLean Care Board in January2022 and has extensive clinical experience in the Aged Care Sector as an Accredited Clinical Pharmacist, providing education, advisory and governance support for over 20 years.
Lia is also past recipient of the New England Northwest Zonta Business Woman of the Year award.
Lia is also a proud toastmaster, previously taking on many active roles across the district, being award a Distinguished Toastmaster Medal in 2021.
Generous with her time, over the years Lia has also been involved with multiple school, church, and community organisations.
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